How Walking Can Build Up the Brain
According to recent research on walking, dancing, and brain health, exercise can refresh and even rebuild white matter in the brain. This improvement may enhance our ability to think clearly and retain memories as we age.
Walking Improves Brain Structure
Recent studies have found that older adults who walked regularly for six months showed notable improvements in white matter and memory. Interestingly, participants who engaged in other forms of exercise did not show the same results.
White matter, the network that connects and supports brain cells, appears to remodel itself with consistent physical activity. In contrast, sedentary individuals often experience a decline—white matter tends to fray and shrink over time.
A Flexible Brain, Even in Adulthood
Until the 1990s, scientists believed that human brains became physically fixed after early childhood. It was commonly thought we were born with all the brain cells we would ever have.
However, scientific advancements have proven otherwise. Specialized imaging and dyes now show that certain parts of the brain continue to create new neurons well into adulthood—a process called neurogenesis.
Exercise and Neurogenesis
Follow-up studies confirm that exercise stimulates neurogenesis. In animal studies, rodents running on wheels produced three to four times more brain cells than those that remained inactive.
In humans, starting a regular exercise routine—especially walking—has been shown to increase brain volume and support cognitive health. These findings suggest that our brains maintain lifelong plasticity, continuing to change and adapt in response to how we move our bodies.
🔗 Learn More:
For more insights on how exercise affects memory and white matter production, visit:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/14/well/move/exercise-walking-brain-memory.html
